Crash claims life of ENMU student

September 28, 2005

By Karl Terry: PNT Managing Editor

A three-vehicle crash near Lubbock on Tuesday morning claimed the life of an Eastern New Mexico University student and sent a second ENMU student to a Lubbock hospital.
ENMU junior Sheena Arnes Ray, 21, of Odessa, Texas, died at the scene. Daquita Mitchell, 22, of Anton, Texas, also an ENMU student, was transported to Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock in stable condition. She suffered a broken arm, according to a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety in Lubbock.

The ENMU pair was west-bound at 8:53 a.m. (CDT) on FM 2641 in a 2002 Dodge Neon driven by Mitchell. A DPS report states the accident occurred at a stop sign at the intersection of Farm and Market Road 1264 and FM 2641 about two miles west of Lubbock International Airport. The Neon was struck as it entered the intersection by a north-bound 1998 Chevrolet pickup driven by Romero Garcia of Shallowater, Texas, the report states. Then as the Neon crossed into the south-bound lane of FM 1264 it was struck by a 1996 Ford Windstar Van driven by Dan Wright, 78, of Abernathy, Texas.

Garcia was uninjured but Dan Wright along with a passenger in his vehicle, Vallarie Wright, 80, also of Abernathy, were transported to University Medical Center in Lubbock. Dan Wright was transported in serious condition with internal injuries and Vallarie Wright was transported in stable condition with unknown injuries, according to DPS.

A DPS spokesperson said the posted speed limit on both roadways is 70 mph.

No citations were listed on the trooper’s report, the spokesperson said.

Family members of Ray declined comment when contacted Tuesday.

“We’re just trying to gather the family together right now,” said Shakeyah Powell a cousin of Ray’s.

Ray was a sprinter for the ENMU Zia track team for the past three years where she ran the 200 meters and was on the 4X100 relay team, according to Zia track coach Eric Boll.

Boll said Ray was a graduate of Odessa-Permian High School and was attending ENMU on a track scholarship.

Boll said Ray wasn’t a star athlete but a nice person who worked hard and was a good team member.

“The biggest thing about Sheena I’ll think about is how friendly she was,” Boll said.

Boll said Mitchell is also a member of the Zia track team. He said the two had driven a friend to the Lubbock airport on Tuesday morning.